5 answers
maddie
Student
Asheville, North Carolina
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Which major is better for the study of Asian Languages???
Hello, I am currently thinking about what I am going to be majoring in. I would like to be able to learn Asian languages (Japanese, Korean, etc.). I have done some research and I see there are so many options to choose from. I could major in Korean, Japanese, Asian Studies, or Linguistics. I am not sure which to choose from.
I found two colleges that offer these courses, Ohio State University and Pomona College.
(By the way, I mostly want to learn Korean, and I am also interested in studying abroad.)
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5 answers
John Crossley
Country Risk Officer
1
Answer
Japan
Updated
John’s Answer
Hi Maddie,
I agree with Dawn's reply that which language/major you choose will depend very much on what you want to do with it.
I'd add that learning a language can be challenging, so finding personal motivation for choosing a particular language is key. That could be anything ... you visited the country and enjoyed it, you like the music, TV, movies, or other cultural things, or just that you're intrigued by the country or language. Choosing a language to learn on the pure basis of which language will be the most "useful", without feeling any personal connection, may lead to a frustrating experience.
Ultimately to get really good at a language you will probably need to spend time in a country where they speak it, so choosing a place where you could see yourself living for a year or two, either working or continuing study, is a good idea.
I'd also consider doing the language as your minor and making your major something related but more general. A standard path is a major such as International Relations, International Business, or Political Science. Again, which major you choose depends on what you want to do. With the language as your minor you can still learn it thoroughly, and worst case if you change your mind about your interest in the country/language your major is still useful and you can consider trying another language.
I agree with Dawn's reply that which language/major you choose will depend very much on what you want to do with it.
I'd add that learning a language can be challenging, so finding personal motivation for choosing a particular language is key. That could be anything ... you visited the country and enjoyed it, you like the music, TV, movies, or other cultural things, or just that you're intrigued by the country or language. Choosing a language to learn on the pure basis of which language will be the most "useful", without feeling any personal connection, may lead to a frustrating experience.
Ultimately to get really good at a language you will probably need to spend time in a country where they speak it, so choosing a place where you could see yourself living for a year or two, either working or continuing study, is a good idea.
I'd also consider doing the language as your minor and making your major something related but more general. A standard path is a major such as International Relations, International Business, or Political Science. Again, which major you choose depends on what you want to do. With the language as your minor you can still learn it thoroughly, and worst case if you change your mind about your interest in the country/language your major is still useful and you can consider trying another language.
Rajeev Parasnis
Retired
12
Answers
Panama City, Florida
Updated
Rajeev’s Answer
When most Americans think of Asia, what country stands out? CHINA, of course. English and Spanish are widely spoken throughout the planet. But their proliferation is rooted in colonialism and the former world order. Things have changed galvanically over the last 50 years. INDIA is now the second largest nation on earth population-wise, after China.
Instead of training to become a welder or a seamstress, Maddie is trying to choose a specific Asian language to become proficient in. And what is her goal (other than becoming a CIA operative in that country)? To find gainful employment in the country of her choice, which are irrelevant to this discussion. Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, prevail in the Far East. Unless you work in their countryside, why would you need them?
My advice to Maddie is to learn HINDI understood by more than 1 billion people on this earth. The script is Devanagari but its philological origin is Arabic/Persian/Turkish. India has 14 languages but the top 3 are Hindi, Telugu, Marathi. Forget Telugu - it has its own script - not Devanagari. But as a native speaker of Marathi, I can tell you that you can communicate with 15% of the population of this planet if you speak Marathi and Hindi.
Instead of training to become a welder or a seamstress, Maddie is trying to choose a specific Asian language to become proficient in. And what is her goal (other than becoming a CIA operative in that country)? To find gainful employment in the country of her choice, which are irrelevant to this discussion. Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, prevail in the Far East. Unless you work in their countryside, why would you need them?
My advice to Maddie is to learn HINDI understood by more than 1 billion people on this earth. The script is Devanagari but its philological origin is Arabic/Persian/Turkish. India has 14 languages but the top 3 are Hindi, Telugu, Marathi. Forget Telugu - it has its own script - not Devanagari. But as a native speaker of Marathi, I can tell you that you can communicate with 15% of the population of this planet if you speak Marathi and Hindi.
I appreciate your support, Rajeev
maddie
Eric Anderson
Ethics & Integrity
1
Answer
Zushi, Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan
Updated
Eric’s Answer
Hi Maddie,
In addition to the advice offered by the other responders, I might suggest majoring in International Studies or International Relations, with a minor in your language. This will still allow you to spend lots of credit hours mastering your chosen language, but will also provide you with more career options and the chance to learn about the culture, politics, history, etc. of the country whose language you decide to study.
Best of luck!
In addition to the advice offered by the other responders, I might suggest majoring in International Studies or International Relations, with a minor in your language. This will still allow you to spend lots of credit hours mastering your chosen language, but will also provide you with more career options and the chance to learn about the culture, politics, history, etc. of the country whose language you decide to study.
Best of luck!
Dawn Braithwaite
Payroll Administrator
2
Answers
Tucson, Arizona
Updated
Dawn’s Answer
Hi Maddie,
Mostly it will depend on your goals and how you want to use your major. Do you want to use your language skills as an interpreter, or as a worker in a foreign country? Then definitely pick the language for the country where you believe you will want to live! Do you want to eventually teach the language or join the military and go into a field where it would be useful? In that case, maybe peruse job advertisements for foreign workers, or speak with a military recruiter to see what options are out there. Do you want to go into foreign affairs work? You might want to pick up a minor in
Korean is the easiest Asian language to learn, and it is an isolated language so no other language is related to Korean. Mandarin Chinese is the most difficult (although some languages are based on Chinese, especially the written language, so if you learned Chinese first, you would be halfway to learning some of the others, like Japanese, which has three alphabets). I believe Chinese is spoken by the most people as far as Asian languages go.
Have you taken a foreign language class in high school? Have you tried one of the many apps for learning a new language? Learning a new language can be very difficult and it is a lifetime learning process, though you could become very proficient in Korean, for example, in about two years, depending on your aptitude. I would definitely suggest contacting a guidance counselor at the colleges you are most interested in, and find out how their different programs work for majoring in multiple languages. They will be able to explain the different studies involved for a linguistics degree (which focuses on the elements of language such as sounds and structure of speech among other things), versus majoring in a specific language (which not only includes studying the actual language, but the culture and region where it is spoken as well). There are also courses where you study more than one language/culture at a time - such as an "East Asian" major. When focusing on a single language as your major, I believe you will take classes on that language's literature, culture, linguistics and even art.
Good luck with your studies! You sound ambitious and I hope you find the course that suits you best. (And if you don't at first, you can always change your major.)
~Dawn.
Mostly it will depend on your goals and how you want to use your major. Do you want to use your language skills as an interpreter, or as a worker in a foreign country? Then definitely pick the language for the country where you believe you will want to live! Do you want to eventually teach the language or join the military and go into a field where it would be useful? In that case, maybe peruse job advertisements for foreign workers, or speak with a military recruiter to see what options are out there. Do you want to go into foreign affairs work? You might want to pick up a minor in
Korean is the easiest Asian language to learn, and it is an isolated language so no other language is related to Korean. Mandarin Chinese is the most difficult (although some languages are based on Chinese, especially the written language, so if you learned Chinese first, you would be halfway to learning some of the others, like Japanese, which has three alphabets). I believe Chinese is spoken by the most people as far as Asian languages go.
Have you taken a foreign language class in high school? Have you tried one of the many apps for learning a new language? Learning a new language can be very difficult and it is a lifetime learning process, though you could become very proficient in Korean, for example, in about two years, depending on your aptitude. I would definitely suggest contacting a guidance counselor at the colleges you are most interested in, and find out how their different programs work for majoring in multiple languages. They will be able to explain the different studies involved for a linguistics degree (which focuses on the elements of language such as sounds and structure of speech among other things), versus majoring in a specific language (which not only includes studying the actual language, but the culture and region where it is spoken as well). There are also courses where you study more than one language/culture at a time - such as an "East Asian" major. When focusing on a single language as your major, I believe you will take classes on that language's literature, culture, linguistics and even art.
Good luck with your studies! You sound ambitious and I hope you find the course that suits you best. (And if you don't at first, you can always change your major.)
~Dawn.
Thank you, this is really helpful.
maddie
Jimil Burkhart
Software Engineer
97
Answers
Gilbert, Arizona
Updated
Jimil’s Answer
There are a few things to consider when choosing a major to study Asian languages, such as your ultimate career goals, your personal interests, and the resources available at the institutions you are considering.
If your ultimate goal is to become fluent in one or more Asian languages, you may want to consider majoring in the specific language(s) you are interested in. For example, at Ohio State University, you can major in Korean or Japanese language and literature. This will likely provide you with the most in-depth study of the language and its literature, as well as opportunities to speak and practice the language in class and through study abroad programs.
If you're more interested in the cultural and historical aspects of Asian countries, an Asian Studies major might be a good choice for you. This type of major allows you to study the languages, culture, history, politics, and society of a specific region, such as East Asia. And at Pomona College, you can major in Asian Studies with focus in any language(s) you are interested in.
Linguistics is also a good choice if you are interested in the structure and function of language, and how it can be applied to understand human communication. A Linguistics major can give you a good foundation in the study of language, and allow you to learn about the different features of different languages, such as phonetics, phonology, and grammar.
As you already mentioned, you have an interest in studying abroad, so it's worth looking at the study abroad programs that are available at the institutions you are considering. Ohio State University has a study abroad program in Korea, and Pomona College has several exchange programs and direct enroll programs in Korea.
Ultimately, the best major for you will depend on your specific interests and goals, as well as the resources available at the institutions you are considering. It may be a good idea to speak with an academic advisor or a representative from the department of your major at the institutions you are interested in, in order to get a better sense of what the program has to offer.
If your ultimate goal is to become fluent in one or more Asian languages, you may want to consider majoring in the specific language(s) you are interested in. For example, at Ohio State University, you can major in Korean or Japanese language and literature. This will likely provide you with the most in-depth study of the language and its literature, as well as opportunities to speak and practice the language in class and through study abroad programs.
If you're more interested in the cultural and historical aspects of Asian countries, an Asian Studies major might be a good choice for you. This type of major allows you to study the languages, culture, history, politics, and society of a specific region, such as East Asia. And at Pomona College, you can major in Asian Studies with focus in any language(s) you are interested in.
Linguistics is also a good choice if you are interested in the structure and function of language, and how it can be applied to understand human communication. A Linguistics major can give you a good foundation in the study of language, and allow you to learn about the different features of different languages, such as phonetics, phonology, and grammar.
As you already mentioned, you have an interest in studying abroad, so it's worth looking at the study abroad programs that are available at the institutions you are considering. Ohio State University has a study abroad program in Korea, and Pomona College has several exchange programs and direct enroll programs in Korea.
Ultimately, the best major for you will depend on your specific interests and goals, as well as the resources available at the institutions you are considering. It may be a good idea to speak with an academic advisor or a representative from the department of your major at the institutions you are interested in, in order to get a better sense of what the program has to offer.